HALIFAX — Hundreds of sailors are back on Canadian soil after a months-long deployment in the Mediterranean Sea.
HMCS Fredericton returned to its home port of Halifax last week after being deployed in January as part of Operation Reassurance, which focuses on Canada’s NATO commitment to assurance and deterrence measures in central and eastern Europe.
“I’m glad to welcome the crew of HMCS Fredericton home following their successful participation in Operation Reassurance,” said Rear Admiral Steve Waddell, deputy commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, in a statement.
“Conducting operations with our NATO allies and defending security and stability in Europe as its being challenged is a significant endeavour and our crew rose to the task.”
Canada has deployed ships on Operation Reassurance, currently the country’s largest international military operation, on a continuous, rotational basis following Russia’s invasion of Crimea in 2014.